DEGRADABLE PLASTICS

South Africa generates 2.4 million tons of plastic waste every year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This means that every South African contributes about 41 kg of plastic waste per year and about 14 % is recycled. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), together with other national standards bodies and forums, continue to work to provide standards and guidelines for environmentally friendly production and processing of plastics and plastic products.

The SABS has recently published SANS 1728, requirements for the marking and identification of degradable plastics. These include but are not limited to biodegradable, compostable, oxo-biodegradable and water-soluble plastics. SANS 1728 advises consumers to recognise the correct markings and to be aware that any product claiming to have biodegradable plastic, needs to be verified according to the standard, which is aligned to global requirements.

Vague environmental claims such as ‘environmentally safe’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘earth friendly’, ‘non-polluting’, ‘green’, ‘ozone friendly’ or ‘plastic free’ are specifically cautioned against in SANS 1728. Manufacturers wanting to claim that their plastic packaging is degradable need to subject it to the relevant testing and certification requirements. Currently in South Africa there are no products that have been certified by the SABS as compliant or meeting the requirements of SANS 1728.

SANS 1728 requires that the plastic material used in the packaging must be presented on the packaging, using a material identification code from 1-7, and contained in a triangle. Should the plastic packaging be of a degradable nature, it will be indicated below the triangle.

www.sabs.co.za